First of three Algerian Emergency Towing Vessels is delivered

First of three ‘state of the art’ Emergency Towing Vessels (ETVs), El Moundjid, has been handed over to the Algerian Government by STX OSV Braatvaag in Norway.

Two sister ships will follow in June and September of this year. The tugs will be operated by the Algerian Navy in naval grey colours, bearing the pennant numbers 701, 702 and 703, and based at Oran and Skikda.

The vessels are constructed to the Rolls-Royce UT 515 CD design and very similar to the French (UT 515) ocean going ETVs Abeille Bourbon and Abeille Liberte, built in 2005. EL Moundjid and its sisters are almost identical in appearance and dimensions, and designed to undertake the same duties; salvage, rescue and towing operations, including fire fighting and pollution prevention.

Hull construction and all major steel work was undertaken by STX Tulcea in Romania. The partially built vessels were then towed to Norway for completion in the Braatvaag yard. Outfitting included the installation of a fully integrated Rolls-Royce equipment system, including engines, propulsion systems, rudders, deck machinery, thrusters, automation and control systems, and Dynamic Positioning equipment. Included in the contract is an extensive customer training programme to be delivered at the new Rolls-Royce training centre in Aalesund, Norway.

All three vessels measure 86.0m in length with a beam (moulded) of 17.5m, a depth of 8.00m, a draft of 6.50m and a gross tonnage of 3,249grt. This design has a largely ‘traditional’ tug configuration with a long, high, forecastle, rounded stern and well protected after deck.

The tugs have a bollard pull of 200 tonnes and a maximum speed of 20 knots. A twin screw propulsion system is installed, comprising four MaK 8M32C main engines driving two controllable pitch propellers via twin input-single output gearboxes, with a total of 21,736 bhp.

A high degree of manoeuvrability is enhanced by two 883kW bow thrusters and two stern thrusters of 515kW. When necessary, the main engines, rudders and thrusters can be operated either under a single lever integrated control or full Dynamic Positioning.

El Moundjid and its sisters are equipped not only for towing and salvage but also the rescue of casualties, pollution control and retrieval and fire fighting. With the introduction of this powerful and well equipped trio to protect the country’s coastline, Algeria will have a significant presence in the Mediterranean in terms of towage and salvage capability.

This first vessel has been engaged in comprehensive trials and crew training before departing to its home port, including some time ‘working up’ in the Clyde under the auspices of the Royal Navy.